A 6-year-old boy died Sunday in an ATV crash in Lakeland.
Officials say the child was riding in an ATV driven by an 8-year-old when it crashed.
The boys were apparently riding on a dirt track when the ATV struck two dirt mounds and flipped onto its side, landing onto the 6-year-old boy.
The child suffered “massive head injuries.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said his family brought him to a fire station after the crash and he was transported to Tampa Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The 8-year-old boy was not injured.
The boys initially wore helmets but removed them after taking a break and did not put them back on.
According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, nearly 90,000 people a year are injured, and another 120 people are killed in ATV accidents in the United States. Tragically, more than half of all ATV injuries and deaths occur in children under the age of 16. These fatalities can be frequent because children are riding ATVs weighing up to 600 pounds or more that are meant for adults, and can travel up to 60 M.P.H., so life-threatening roll overs and lethal injuries can easily happen.
Our experienced Tampa Bay Injury & Wrongful Death Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can take action for you if your child has been hurt or killed in an ATV accident caused by someone else’s negligence. We work to get maximum compensation for your suffering and financial hardships.
For a free consultation to learn how we may be able to help you through this difficult time, call us at 813-221-3200 or contact us online.